Wrapping machine and method



July 31, 1945.

A. W. WITBRO WRAPPING MACHINE AND METHODS Filed Feb. 20, 1941 6 SheetsSheet l INVENTOR QAEXHNDEEVZ 1407520 AIM/ July 31, 1945.

A. w. WITBRO 2,380,816

WRAPPING MACHINE AND METHODS Filed Feb. 20, 19 41 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 kl 1 Q :2:41'5 :r'i Q 95 "11ml Ifln 75 99; 1 55 A 97 173 98 99 7 a 5/ 20 ii t 59 1 I 9 59 g a J fl .90 w. w T i 93 9/ f P W I l 05 Q w I Z INVENTOR HLEXH/Y 05/? W. 14 174320 July 31, 1945. A. w. WITBRO WRAPPING MACHINE AND METHODS Fi led Feb. 20, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR lQAEXfl/VVE/Q YY. l V/faka BY m,

' A. w. WITBRO WRAPPING MACHINE AND METHODS July 31, 1945.

Filed Feb. 20, 1941 .6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR fiAEXH/VOEQ 14 140mm A. w. WITBRO 2,380,816

WRAPPING MACHINE AND METHODS July 31, 1945.

Filed Feb. 20, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 A39 45/ w w l} M I 2 H147 INVENTOR fiLEXfl/VOE/Q 144 mm July 31, 1945. I A. w.'w|TBRo 2,330,316

WRAPPING MACHINE AND METHODS Filed Feb. 20, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 945x Am s? AM 1007520 INVENTOR Patented July 31, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,380,816 WRAPPING AND METHOD Alexander W. Witbro. De Pere, Win, assignor to Rio 0. A. Lawton Company, De Pere, Wia, a corporation of Wisconsin Application February 20, 1941, Serial No. 379,758

17 Claims.

wrapping of rolls such as rolls of toilet paper,

which may have substantial variations in diameter, and it is the primary object of the invention to provide a neat and tightly drawn wrapper about a relatively soft toilet roll irrespective of size, within substantial limits. More specifically stated, it is the object of the invention to provide a wrapping machine in which the article to be wrapped may be held stationary instead of being rotated to wind the wrapper thereon, and the wrapper is pulled snugly about the article with its overlapping marginal portions crimped against the end of the article (and, in the case of a toilet roll, tucked into the core) in a manner such that the margin of the wrapper overlappin about the article is pulled snugly against the article under tension so that a neat wrapping job is produced.

Other objects are: the provision of a wrapped product having a label or wrapper overlapped at its margin upon the face of the product, the overlapping margin of the wrapper being drawn across the end of the product backwardly of the overlapping margin on the peripheral face thereof in a direction which might be thought to loosen the wrapper but which actually draws and holds it snugly upon the article; the provision of a novel method and apparatus for producing this character of a wrap upon the article while holding the article stationary or at least non-revoluble in the course of the wrapper crimping operation, the folding or crimping fingers acting on the portions of the wrapper projecting from the article bein arranged to move in a particular sequence of particular positions in such a way as to draw the wrapper under tension about the article; the provision of novel and improved means for holding the article and wrapper pending the wrapping operation and for initiating the wrapping movement; upon means for temporarily supporting adjacent the ends of the article the projecting portions of the wrapper during the initiation of the crimping movement and then withdrawing such support to permit of the completion of the crimping movement, and finally using the support as a means of pushing the crimped wrapper into the core; the provision of a novel and improved wrapper and wrapper feed whereby a stack of wrappers is so held that the several wrappers are maintained in positive alignment and secured against the possibility of the inadvertent withthe stack; and the provision of a novel and improved safety mechanism for stopping the machine in the event that any portion of it becomes clogged.

It is very important that my improved machine and process result in a novel wrapped product in which the wrapper is maintained in the desired snugly tensioned relationship to the roll without 10 this product and generally sought to be avoided by paper mills. In the past, wrappers tensioned about the roll could he held under tension-only through the use oi adhesives.

A further object is generally to simplify and improve the construction, arrangement and operation for one or more of the purposes mentioned, and still other objects will be apparent iromthe specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through the machine on the line i-i of Figs. 2 and 5.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the machine on the line 3-2 oi Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine omitting the roll feed apparatus.

Fig. 4 is a view of the machine taken in section on the line 1-4 of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail view on an enlarged scale showing the Wrapper folding or crimping fingers as viewed from that end of the machine which is at the top of the sheet in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the folding or crimping fingers and actuating mechanism as viewed on the line 6-4 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 'l is a diagrammatic view showing in full line and section two intermediate positions of the folding or crimping fingers which, in Fig. 6, are illustrated in their fully retracted position.

Fig. 8 is a view in perspective of the product 40 which results from the apparatus and method herein disclosed.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary detail view in amalsection of the supporting clamping and tucking plunger which co-operates with the fingers shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

Figs. 10, 1i and 12 are fragmentary detail views illustrating successive relative positions of the folding or crimping fingers. the supporting plunger and the work.

Fig. 13-is a diagrammatic view illustrating for purposes of comparison perspective views or the cams used in the machine.

Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic view illustrating for purposes of comparison the developed surfaces drawal of more than one wrapper at a time from of the cams shown in Fig. 13.

Fig. is a fragmentary detail in side elevation of another operating cam and its associated cam follower.

Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughout'the several views.

Successive rolls are delivered into the machine in a feed trough or guideway 21 which, as shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 1. includes a table-like bottom 22 adjacent its end across which the successive rolls are delivered by aconveyor belt 23 in the remaining portion of the feed trough or guideway. At its extreme end the feed trough or guideway includes a stop at 24 against which the first roll in the series abuts. Beneath this roll the bottom of the feed trough comprises trap doors 25 normally held in the position shown in Fig. l by the tension spring 26 to yieldably support the first roll.

After a label has been introduced beneath the roll in the manner hereinafter to be described, the roll is. positively thrust downwardly under pressure of the foot 27 carried by a reciprocable bar 28. The positive thrust of this foot against the roll will break the roll free of the preceding roll in the event that the slitters have not fully severed the successive rolls from each other.

The label or wrapper feed and the label or wrapper have been devised expressly for the particular purposes of this invention and will be described in detail later.

The label hopper is best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. It comprises a vertical plate at 29 against which the margins of the labels 30 are aligned. The lowermost label in the stack rests upon a bar 3| and a plurality of friction rolls 32. Immediately below the vertical plate 29 and communieating with the hopper therebeneath is a label guideway of skeletonized form made up of the fingers 33 between which the feed rolls 38 are in sufilciently close proximity to grasp successive labels between their line of bite when such labels are advanced by the friction rolls 32. At some of the fingers in the skeletonized label guideway are shorter than the fingers at either side thereof to provide an opening through which the label or wrapper may be pushed with a roll delivered thereto from above.

At the side of the hopper remote from the vertical guide plate 29 is a bar at 3'! carrying one or more vertical pegs 38. The wrappers or labels are perforated at their end margins to receive these posts 38 in the same manner in which the perforated sheets of a loose leai nootbook receive the binding posts thereof. Thus the successive wrappers or labels very positively retained in the hopper and can be removed therefrom only .by breaking out the sides of the successive wrappers where such wrappers are engaged over the pegs 38.

The pressure feed rolls 3d and 34' are operated at materially higher speed than the friction rolls 32. Moreover, the friction rolls 32 have an overrun clutch incorporated in their driving conneclug at ll which engages a lug 42 projecting from the end of the respective roll 32. The engagement of lugs ll and 42 constitutes the only means for propelling the respective rolls. The wrappets are preferably loaded by a weight 43 and the friction rolls 32, preferably rubber covered, exert considerable friction upon the lowermost wrapper 3| in the stack. such friction being entirely adequate to pull this lowermost wrapper free of the in the stack of the hopper are The temporary supports pegs 38 and to advance the wrapper into the bite of the feed rolls 34 and 34'.

As previously indicated, the feed rolls 34 and 34 rotate at a higher rate of speed than friction roll 32. Consequently, gage the wrapper they will increase the rat of wrapper advance, thereby accelerating the friction rolls 32 with respect to the shafts 39 and drivers 40, the acceleration and lost motion between these parts being accommodated by the movement of lug 42 away from lug 4| of each driver. Since the friction of one wrapper with another is very much less than adequate to break out the sides of the next successive wrapper, such on the pegs 38 and the lowermost wrapper will be pulled from beneath the stack. By the time such lowermost wrapper clears the friction roll which is beneath the center of the stack, such overrun, in advance of its propelling lug I. As a result, the friction roll will remain stationary beneath the stack until the slower motion of the driving shaft 39 and the drivers 4!] enable the respective lugs 4| to catch up with the driven lugs 42 of the respective rolls. In the meantime the wrapsoon as the friction rolls resume operation.

The advance of the label or wrapper in the manner above described locates the wrapper on the skeletonized feed table directly beneath a sure plate 21 through the spring traps 25, the rods 45 carrying the temporary supports 44 are lowered (by levers 46, cam followers 41 and cams 48 on shaft 49) beneath the roll and wrapper, ultimately depositing the roll with the wrapper partially wrapped about it into a folding pocket. are best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the latter illustrating the supports in their lowered positions.

The several pockets are mounted at suitable intervals on a conveyor chain 50 operating over sprockets 5| and 52. Each pocket comprises 9.

portions preferably joined to member 53 by means of spring hinges at 56. The length of the channel 54 is somewhat less than that of the roll, thus affording a clearance for the temporary supports 44 to move out of the way as shown in Fig. 4.

the roll as best shown in Fig. 1, its two side margins projecting upwardly from the pocket.

Immediately the roll and positioned in the pocket in the manner shown in Fig. 1, the driving element 58 of the Geneva gear set shown in Fig. 1 operates the driven Geneva gear element 59 to transmit motion through chain to sprocket 52, thereby advancing the chain and pocket.

coincidentally with such advance, the cam 02 as soon as they en as now to be described.

acting on cam follower 88 has oscillated the lever 84 about fulcrum 85 to project forwardly the rod 88 and the tucking device 81 which includes two spring fingers 88 and 88 at differing levels. The rate of advance and timing of these spring fingers is such that the upwardly projecting margin of the wrapper which lies immediately in the path of such spring fingers is folded downwardly and tightly wrapped about the roll 28 and is held tightly wrapped thereabout in the course of roll advance on the conveyor chain 58. The resilient yieldability of the spring fingers 88 and 88 not only does the wrapping but holds the wrapper-snugly in position on the roll irrespective of such minor deficiencies in roll diameter as are generally encountered in toilet rolls having the same number of sheets, particularly when the toilet roll is loosely wound.

As the toilet roll moves forwardly on the conveyor with the left hand margin of the wrapper tightly bound thereabout by the fingers 68 and 88 (Fig. 1), the right hand side of the wrapper encounters adepending web 18 of felt which is supported loosely by a chain or the like at 1| in the path of the wrapper. This piece of felt or other fiexible secondary wrapping medium serves to wipe the right hand upwardly projecting portion of the wrapper over that portion thereof which has previously been wound about the roll. Fig. 6 shows the end elevation of the partially wrapped roll at this stage, the core being indicated at 12, the margin of the wrapper folded by the spring fingers 88 and 88 being shown at 18 and the overlying margin of the wrapper folded from the right by the felt 18 being shown at 18.

As the felt thus folds downwardly the margin 14 of the wrapper, the forward advance of the spring fingers 68 and 68 ceases, so thatin effect these spring fingers are withdrawn from between the margins 13 and 14 of the wrapper as the latter is pressed into place about the roll.

Beyond the supporting chain 18 the web of felt sags at 15 into the path of the advancing roll and wrapper to maintain the wrap thus far achieved pending the making of the end folds At this point the wrapper is in tubular cylindrical form with the toilet roll centered therein and the tubular wrapper ends unsupported beyond the ends of the toilet roll but maintained in tubular form by the natural substance characteristic of even thin paper.

At the station to which the roll has now been advanced by the indexing movement of the chain 58, the end of the roll is confronted by plungers 11 axially aligned therewith and best illustrated in Figs. 2, and 9 to 12.

The detail shown in Fig. 9 is typical. Each plunger 11 is provided at I8 with a spring seat secured to the plunger. Immediately adjacent the plunger is a relatively strong spring 18 engaged against the seat 18 at one end and, at its other end, bearing against a sleeve 88 which is slidable axially of the plunger to an extreme position defined by the shoulder M on the end of the plunger. The outer end of sleeve 88 carries a tapered plug 82 shouldered at 83 to receive the thrust of an annular clamping element 85 held thereto by a relatively lighter compression spring 86, which likewise seats against the spring abutment 18. The annular clamping member 85 should preferably have a diameter approximately two-thirds that of the roll, this relationship being important for the best results as hereinafter described.

The plungers 11 are controlled as to position by.levers 81 normally retracted by compression springs 88. These levers are fulcrumed at 88 and at their lower ends have cam follower rollers 88 engaged with barrel cams 8I, the developed profile of which is shown in Fig. 14 to be provided with two high points at 88 and 84 respectively. Each of the levers 81 preferably has a jointed extension pivoted thereto at 88 and normally held in position by a yieldable friction detent 81 adapted to yield and permit of relative movement between the extension 85 and the lever 81 when the plunger 11 is overloaded.

The safety switch 88 has its contactor 88 engaged by the lever extension 85 to hold the switch open so long as the parts remain in their proper operative relations as illustrated in Fig. 2, but if the extension 85 pivots respecting the lever 81 the switch 88 is operated to stop the machine. While no details of the switch are illustrated, switches which are either automatically selfopening or automatically self-closing are well known and either type may be used in this organization, connected, if necessary, through suitable relays to control the operation of the main motor which is illustrated at I88 in Fi l.

The spring detent at 81 is of the general character of a similar device shown in Fig. 5 which will be described as typical. In Fig. 5 the bar I82 has an extension I83 pivoted thereto at I84 to yield in the same manner in which the extension lever 85 "breaks with respect to lever 81 in Fig. 2 when the thrust becomes excessive. The extension I83 is provided at I85 with a socket and the lever I82 carriesa pin I88 beveled at its end to be received only as to its terminal bevel portion into the socket I85. The pin I88 is subjected to the pressure of a dished plate I81 acted on by a light compression spring I88 seated against a nut I88 on bolt II8 threaded into the bar I82. When the pressure tending to oscillate the tension element I83 about the pivot I88 becomes excessive, the tapered extremity of the pin I86 is forced from the socket I85 against the pressure of spring I88 as transmitted to the pin through the dished plate I81, thus permitting relative pivotal movement between the bar and its extension. When such movement occurs the switch I I I is operated to stop the machine in the same manner in which switch 88 is correspondingly operated in Fig. 2.

The parts just described in Figs. 5 and 6 are used in the actuation of a set of folding or crimping fingers, there being one such set disposed at each side of the position occupied by the pocket at the folding station. The shape, location and sequence of engagement of the work is very important in the development of fingers which will satisfactorily fold the work for the purposes of the present invention.

Figs. 5, 6 and '1 show the parts in their proper relative sizes and positions. A stud I55 projecting from the machine frame supports a sleeve I58 which constitutes a rock shaft having a rocker arm I51 to which the rod extension I83 is pivoted. Upon the sleeve I56 I mount a pair of fingers I58 and I59 which are identical and have the peculiar outline clearly shown in Fig. 6.

Each finger has a long tapered portion I68 and a broad portion I I I, the margins of these portions being joined in a rounded apex at H2 at something less than 90 to each other and providing two distinct folding surfaces.

A gear segment II8 on the sleeve or rock shaft I88 meshes with a similar segment I I4 on a sleeve or-rock shaft II5 which is carried by stud H6.

The arm III projects from the sleeve I I5 initially at substantially 180 from the initial projection 01 finger I58 from its rock shaft I56. However, close to the rock shaft II5, the fingers H8 and I I9 project substantially at right angles from arm portion II'I. Fingers H8 and IIS are identical in form. Each has a long tapering portion I which is curved something similar to the shape of a sickle. Each has a broader portion I2I, the margin of which merges with the margin of portion I20 at an apex I22 which is slightly greater than a right angle.

Carried between the fingers I I8 and H9 is a cam roller I23 which engages the cam surface I24 at the rear of one of another pair of identical fingers I25 and I26, these having somewhat broader and shorter terminal portions I21 joined at an obtuse angle to the intervening portion I28. Fingers I25 and I26 are mounted on the arm I29 of a sleeve I 30 which is oscillatable on stud I3I against the torsion of spring I32 which normally maintains fingers I25 and I26 retracted in the position shown in Fig. 6.

It will be noted that the several fingers are initially spread wide apart in the position shown in Fig. 6, affording adequate clearance for the entry of the partially wrapped roll into the end folding station at which it is illustrated in Fig. 6, the web of felt still resting on its side margin I4 to hold such side margin tightly wrapped pending the end folding operations.

It will further be noted from Fig. 5 that the finger I58 is closest to the end of the roll (from which the ends of the wrapper project in tubular form as indicated in Fig. 2.). Next in point of distance from the end of the roll is finger I25, this being one of the pair of fingers last mentioned. Next comes the other lower finger I59, and then one of the pair of fingers II8. Fifth is the other intermediate finger I26, and finally comes the other upper finger II9, all as shown in Fig. 5.

As soon as the roll comes to rest at the endwrapping station, the various cams initiate the end wrapping functions. The plunger I1 moves in toward the position in which it is illustrated in Fig. 10, this position being that in which its actuating cam follower 90 registers with the high point 93 of the cam 9|. In the meantime the movement of the cam follower roller I34 upon the wrapper folding cam I35 (Figs. 6, 13 and 14) will have advanced the several folding fingers to the positions indicated in section in Fig. 10 and in full lines in Fig. 7. The extreme end marginal portion I36 of the wrapper has been supported by the periphery of the annular pressure plate 85.

The most important factor, however, in the proper foldin of the web has been the initial engagement of the end portions of the wrapper immediately adjacent the overlapping forward margins I4 thereof by the finger portion I60 of fingers I58 and I59. These fingers preferably contact the wrapper slightly in advance of contact thereof by any other fingers. Moreover, their movement and contour at the time of contact is such as to engage the wrapper margin in a direction which is generally radial toward the center of the roll but deviates from radial'sufiiciently so that the overhanging portions of wrapper margin are forced backwardly as well as downwardly in a direction substantially tangent to the core as shown at 14a in Fig. 8. It is further significant that the finger I 58 is the one which is closest to the end of the roll. Instead of pulling the margin I4 loose, as might be expected, this movement draws the margin 14 snugly against the periphery of the roll and holds It under considerable tension. Since the rolls are non-revoluble and are indexed to this final operation in the same relative positions which they occupied when the first fold of the wrapper was made, it will be obvious that the folding finger portion I60 will always engage the margins I4 of successive rolls at substantially the same relative point and in the same relative direction and with the same effect.

As the fingers move inwardly the cam followers 90 which control the movement of plunger 11 ride off of the high spots 93 of cams 9| onto the depressed marginal portion I38 thereof, thereby slightly retracting the plungers as shown in Fig. 11, whereby the flanges and plug portions 82 of the plungers are drawn out of the path of the folding fingers, which, due to the continued movement of cam I 35, are progressively moved toward a full crimping position as shown in the dotted lines of Fig. 7.

After the fingers reach the position shown in full lines in Fig. 11 and in dotted lines in Fig. 7, the paper is quite tightly crimped in line with the opening of the core I2. Thereupon the cam follower roller I04, which operates the fingers, rides on to the rapidly decreasing radius of cam I35 to permit the full retraction of the fingers at the same time that the cam followers 90, which control the plungers II, ride onto the second and higher apex 94 of cams 9I, thereby again advancing the plungers to the position shown in Fig. 12, whereupon the crimped portion I39 of the wrapper is now pushed by the plug 82 into the core I2 of the roll while the annular pressure plate 85 compresses and creases the generally radial folds in the wrapper fiat against the end of the roll. In this operation the two springs 86 and I9 shown in Fig. 9, come into effect. The annular pressure plate 85 first engages the end of the roll and in the continued advance of the plunger the relatively light spring 86 is compressed. Finally, the fitting 85 engages the nut I40 on sleeve 80, there- As soon as the plunger commences its retractmg movement the spring 86 tends to hold the the end of the roll while the tapered plug 82 is being withdrawn from the core and from that part of the wrapper which has been pressed into the core.

In the next successive indexing movement of the conveyor chain 50 the fully wrapped roll is moved to the discharge station shown at the right in Fig. 1. and the ejecting bars I42 spaced on rock shaft I43 at either side of the wrapped roll discharge it from the wrapping pocket onto the outlet chute at I65.

While the various actuating connections are fully indicated in Fig. 1, they will not be described in detail herein inasmuch as any suitable In any event, been referred to with the exception of cam I44 which is shown in Fig. 15 and is mounted on shaft I45 and serves to actuate cam follower I46 to reciprocate rod I4! whereby motion is transmitted through lever I48 to the plunger 28 and pressure foot 2! which delivers each successive roll into the machine. The same shaft I45 has a connecting rod at I49 for oscillating the rockshaft I43 upon which the ejecting levers I42 are mounted.

The functions of the various parts of the machine have been described incidentally to a description of their structure, but the operation will be summarized at this point.

The labels 30 are stacked with their registering apertures threaded onto pegs 38 (Fig. 3 and Fig. 4). The lowermost label in the stack is pulled from the pegs by the friction rolls 32 and advanced into the bite of the feed rolls 34 and 34 which, rotatable at a higher rate, cause the friction rolls to overrun the driving heads 40 (Fig. 3) as the wrapper is subjected to the more rapid advance. The overrun results in lost motion between the driving heads and the friction rolls 32, providing a time interval in which the friction rolls are at rest. The positive anchorage of the wrappers upon the pegs contributes greatly to the accurate functioning of the machine, making it practically impossible for more than one wrapper to be fed at a time.

The wrapper thus advanced is supported in part on the skeletonized feed table comprising rods or fingers 33 and 35 and in part on the temporary supports (Figs. 1 and 4). As the incoming toilet roll is pressed downwardly through the yieldable trap doors 25 of its feed chute 20 by the pressure foot 21 onto the wrapper, the temporary supports 44 simultaneously move downwardly so that the wrapper and roll move together through the opening in the skeletonized feed table whereby the sides of the wrapper are formed upwardly beside the roll. As this movement continues. the roll with the wrapper half formed about it is pressed into one of the pocket channels 54 carried by the indexing conveyor 50. The spring sides 55 at the top of the pocket channel hold the wrapper snugly about the roll, the margins of the wrapper, however, projecting upwardly at 13 and I4 (Fig. 1).

As soon as the roll is positioned in the wrapping pocket the tucking bar 66 advances and the flexible tucking fingers GB and 69 engage the edge E3 of the wrapper to fold it snugly over the top surface of the roll as the roll is positioned in the pocket. Simultaneously the chain 50 indexes to move the roll to its next station. The tucking bar 66 and the fingers 68 and 69 move with the roll and the wrapper to hold the wrapper about the roll during the first part of the indexing movement. As the indexing movement progresses, the depending felt wiper' m is engaged by the upstanding portion 14 of the wrapper, whereupon this portion of the wrapper is folded over the portion held by the fingers 68 and 69. As soon as this wrap is effected the fingers 6B and 69 discontinue their movement with the roll and the depending slack belt 15 of felt continues to hold the margin 14 of the wrapper overlying margin I3 thereof as shown 1 in Fig. 6.

still being held snugly to the top of the roll, the folding fingers commence their synchronous operation whereby the finger portion I60 first engages each successive wrapper at or near the projecting margin 14 at the part 14a thereof in a direction which is generally radial with respect to the roll (the full line position of Fig. '7) but deviates sufiiciently from a radial line to approach a line which is tangent to the roll core. This maintains a constant, though slight component of backward pressure on the margins 14a of the wrapper as such margins are folded or crimped toward the center of the roll. Despite softness of the roll and substantial variations in the diameter thereof, the folding arrangements described will always engage each successive roll at approximately the same relative point on the wrapper and will always accomplish a neat tight wrap. I

The tucking plungers, meantime, have advanced slightly from their normally retracted positions (Fig. 2) to a position indicated in Fig. 10, providing temporary support for the extreme outer end of the initially tubular projecting portion of the wrapper during the first part of the crimping operation (the dotted line position of Fig. 7 and as shown in Fig. 10). As above indicated, it is important, or at least very desirable, that the flange 85 of the plunger should be approximately two-thirds the diameter of the roll.

As the end folding or crimping operation progresses, the plunger is retracted somewhat out of the path of the advancing fingers (Fig. 11) until the fingers have completed their movement. Then the fingers are retracted and the compound plungers push the crimped material of the wrapper inwardly to complete the tucking operation (Fig. 12).

The plunger flanges a5 (Fig. 9) first make a light crease of the material against the ends of' the roll while the plug 82 pushes the crimped material into the core. The combination of pressure and' tension on the folds which extend radially at the end of the roll draws these very tight. At the conclusion of the tucking operation, however, the limit of lost motion between the parts carried by the plunger is reached and the heavy pressure of spring it (Fig. 9) is communicated through the flange to the pleats or folds on the end of the roll (Fig. 8), thus setting these very tightly.

The retraction of the plungers (to the Fig. 2 position) leaves the fully wrapped roll in condition for advance at the next indexing movement of chain 50 to the discharge station, where it is ejected (Fig. 1).

I claim:

1. The method of wrapping a toilet roll comprising the tubing of a wrapper about the roll with an overlapping margin and with the end portions of the wrapper projecting beyond the ends of the roll, and the folding of the projecting end portions of the wrapper against the end faces of the roll while drawing a projecting portion of the overlapping margin of the wrapper rcarwardly of a radial line from the peripheral overlap to the center of the roll, and subjecting it to rearward tension from its position of overlap on the periphery of the roll.

2. A method of wrapping a toilet roll, said method including the tubing of the wrapper about the roll with the margin overlapping on the periphery of the roll and ends of the wrapper projectingin tubular form beyond the ends of the roll. and the application of folding pressure at various distributed points about the periphery of the projecting wrapper end portions adjacent the ends of the roll to collapse such wrapper end portions upon the end of the roll, one of the points of pressure application being at the overlapping margin of the wrapper, and directing such folding pressure at least at the point last mentioned in a direction which is generally radial toward the center of the roll but slightly retrogressive from the point where said overlapping margin projects'from the periphery of the roll, whereby to tension the margin of the wrapper across the end faces of the roll and to hold said margin tightly to the periphery thereof.

3. A method of wrapping a toilet roll having a core, which method comprises tubing a wrapper about the roll with a marginal portion overlapping on the periphery thereof and the end portions of the wrapper projecting in tubular form beyond the respective ends of the roll, and the folding of one of said projecting wrapper end portions against the adjacent roll end by applying pressure to the wrapper at various points distributed about theperiphery thereof, one of said points being adjacent the overlapping margin of the wrapper, and the pressure applied .at said last mentioned point being slightly in advance of the application of pressure to other points contiguous thereto on the periphery of the wrapper and in a direction which is generally radial with respect to the roll but has a slight component rearwardly from the point of overlap of said margin on the periphery of the roll, whereby the projecting overlapping portion of such margin is folded on to the end of the roll in a to the core thereof.

4. The combination with a roll support and means for tubing a wrapper with a peripheral overlapping margin in a margin thereof at each end of the roll, for moving said first finger in engagement with said wrapper in a direction to press the overlapping margin generally centrally toward the axis of the roll but slightly rearwardly from the point of application of such margin to the periphery of the roll, and other folding means cofirst mentioned folding finger for concurrently folding other portions of the wrapper on to the ends of the roll.

5. In a roll wrapping machine, the combination with a support for a roll and a wrapper projecting beyond the ends of the roll and means for tubing the wrapper upon the roll with an overlapping margin on the periphery thereof, of a set of folding fingers adjacent the end for movement substantially of the roll and contoured the projecting portion of parallel to the end for engagement with the wrapper to fold upon said overlapping and projecting wrapper direction approximately tangent portion in addition to pressing said wrapper portion centrally of the roll, whereby to tension the overlapping margin rearwardly from its point of projection from the roll periphery and to bind firmly to the periphery of the roll the overlapping marginal portion of the wrapper on such periphery.

6. In a roll wrapping machine, the combination with a pocket adapted to receive a roll and a wrapper tubed about the roll with its ends projecting therefrom, of a conveyor carrying said pocket. and means for advancing said conveyor in an indexing movement to a folding station, said pocket being adapted to hold the projecting ends of the wrapper disposed transversely to the direction of indexing movement, and end folding means at said station comprising a series of fingers provided with pivotal mountings upon which the several fingers are movable in directions generally radial with remate parallelism with said end, being biased for normal retraction to positions in which the several fingers are open to receive 7. A wrapping machine comprising the combination with side the path of movement of said carrier, folding fingers mounted on the respective pivot means generally parallel to the path of conveyor movement and open to receive the projecting wrapper thereof, the fingers being so contoured with reference to their direction of pivotal movement and with reference to the point of wrapper engagement as to press the wrapper generally toward the center of the work, one of said fingers being engageable with an overlapping marginal portion of said wrapper and contoured and movable in a direction to press said overlapping wrapper portion slightly rearwardly from its position of overlap in the course of its movement toward the center of the work, whereby to tension said marginal wrapper portion upon the work.

8. In a wrapping machine the combination with a conveyor having a support for work and a wrapper projecting from the work laterally of the conveyor, said wrapper having a margin overlapped about the work, of first, second and third pivot means disposed adjacent the path of movement of said support, a first finger mounted on the first pivot means and having a relatively broad intermediate portion and a relatively narrow portion substantially at right angles to the general direction of said intermediate portion, said first pivot means being disposed at one side of the path of movement of said conveyor supfinger portion lying adjacent port and the broad said path and extending radially from said pivot means in the general direction reverse to that of conveyor movement, the narrow portion of said finger being adapted to come up behind the support and the wrapper' projecting from the work mounted therein, a second finger mounted on the second pivot means and having a broad intermediate portion projecting transversely with reference to the path of work advance, and a narrow terminal portion projecting rearwardly with respect to said direction and work advance at the side thereof opposite the side at which said first mentioned finger portion is disposed, and a, third finger portion pivoted at said last mentioned side of the direction of work advance and extending transversely of the direction of work advance and provided with a narrow terminal portion engageable with the work at the side thereof adjacent which the first pivot is located, the several fingers being normally retracted to provide anopening in which the projecting wrapper end is receivable, means for concurrently advancing the several fingers into approximately simultaneous engagement with said projecting wrapper end, the contours of said finger portions being such as to press the material of said wrapper end toward the center of the work, the first finger, however, being so contoured and actuated as to engage the overlapping marginal wrapper portion slightly in advance of the engagement of the other fingers with the wrapper and in a direction slightly rearwardly'about the work from the location of said overlapping margin on the periphery of the work, whereby to tension said margin upon the work.

9. The device set forth in claim 8 in combination with a temporary support, mounting means in which said temporary support is normally retracted, and means for advancing said temporary support to a position within the projecting wrapper during the initiation of action thereon by said fingers and for withdrawing said temporary support during the completion of the finger action on the projecting wrapper end.

10. The device of claim 8 in combination with a combined pressing disk and temporary support including a flange approximately two-thirds the size of the work, a mount in which said temporary support is carried for advance and retraction, means biasing the temporary support to a normally retracted position, means operable in synchronism with the movement of said fingers for advancing said temporary support within the projecting wrapper end for the support of the outer portion thereof during the initial operation of the fingers thereon and for withdrawing said temporary support during the final movement of" the fingers thereon and for finally advancing said temporary support to engage and crease the wrapper portions pressed by said fingers upon the end; of the work, said last mentioned means comprising a cam and cam follower organization in operative connection with the temporary support.v

11. The combination with wrapper feeding means and roll feeding means arranged to deliver a roll upon the face of a wrapper, of a folding pocket constructed to receive the roll and the wrapper portion wrapped about the roll, a conveyor upon which said folding pocket is mounted, means for completing a tubular wrap of the wrapper about the roll in said pocket with one margin of the wrapper overlapping the other on the periphery of the roll remote from said conveyor and the ends of the wrapper projecting from the ends of the roll, means for the indexing advance of the conveyor to an end folding station, a first pivot means below the conveyor and beyond the station, a second pivot means adjacent the conveyor and below the roll beyond the station, and a third pivot means above the roll and beyond the station, a first finger pivoted to the first pivot means and having a relatively broad convex folding portion projecting generally radially from said pivot means rearwardly of the path of conveyor movement, and a convex terminal portion substantially at right angles to said first men tioned convex portion for movement behind the wrapper at said station to engage the overlapping margin of the wrapper, said first finger being located immediately adjacent the end of a roll mounted in said pocket, a second finger on the second pivot means and projecting away from said conveyor across the path of wrapper advance and provided with a terminal portion projecting approximately at right angles rearwardly along the direction of conveyor advance for engagement with the end wrapper portion from above, and a third folding finger mounted on said third pivot means and projecting downwardly toward said conveyor, and having a terminal portion projecting rearwardly along the path of said conveyor for engagement with the end wrapper portion from beneath mechanism for the concurrent actuation of the several fingers about their respective pivot means, said mechanism and fingers being so designed that said first finger, engages the overlapping margin of the wrapper in'a direction to thrust said margin not only toward the center of the roll but slightly rearwardly with reference to its direction of overlap on the roll whereby to tension said margin about the roll.

12. The device of claim 11 in combination with a temporary support and core tucking plunger comprising a plug-shaped member, a reciprocable element upon which said member is carried, a flange at the base of said plug-shaped member, and cam means operable in synchronism with the finger actuating mechanism for advancing and retracting said element and the flange and plugshaped member carried thereby, said cam means having a lurality of high spots so devised and arranged as to advance saidfiange to a temporary supporting position for supporting the outer margin of the projecting end of the wrapper during the initial engagement of said fingers therewith and for withdrawing said flange from the support of the wrapper during the final engagement of the fingers with the wrapper and for advancing said flange and plug-shaped member to tuck the folded wrapper portions centrally into the core of the toilet roll while'creasing against the end of the toilet roll the folds formed in the wrapper.

13. A folding device for a wrapping machine, said device comprising a support movable toward the work, a resiliently flexible finger projecting from the support in the general port advance, and a second resiliently flexible finger somewhat shorter than the first mentioned finger and disposed closer to the center of the work.

14. In a toilet roll wrapping machine, the combination with a movable support for a toilet roll and wrapper and means for the advance thereof, of a reciprocable element positioned for advance in the general direction of said support, a resiliently flexible finger mounted on the element and projecting forwardly in the general direction of supdirection of its advance and in a position for its end yieldablyj to engage substantially superficially a roll carried by said support, said support being adapted to direct a wrapper end outwardly across the path of finger advance and between the finger and roll, a second resiliently fiexible finger carried by said reciprocable element closer to said support than the first mentioned finger, and means for reciprocating said element to engage said fingers with a wrapper portion projecting from a roll on said support in a direction to tension said wrapper portion about the roll on said support, and means for indexing said support while continuing the advance of said element whereby to hold said wrapper portion yieldably upon the roll in the course of such indexing movement.

15. The device of claim 14 in combination with a flexible web depending in the path of the indexing movement of the roll and Wrapper and engageable with the other projecting wrapper margin in the course of such indexing movement to fold said last mentioned wrapper margin over the wrapmr margin held by said spring fingers to said roll.

16. A device for folding about a roll of variable size and density the margin of a wrapper, said device comprising an open-sided pocket in which the roll and wrapper are receivable with the ends of the wrapper projecting from the open side of the pocket, a support, means for moving the support along a path transversely spanning the open side of the pocket, and a plurality of resiliently flexible spring fingers projecting from the support for engagement with one of the wrapper ends projecting from the pocket, one of the spring fingers being disposed substantially in line with the path of support movement for substantially tangential movement with respect to a roll in the pocket whereby to force a projecting wrapper end about the roll, and another finger being below the finger first mentioned and closer the open side of the pocket.

17. A device for folding the projecting end of a wrapper about work to be wrapped, said device comprising a pocket in which the work and wrapper are positioned with the work projecting from the pocket, and both ends of the wrapper projecting at opposite sides of the work, a support movable in a direction to span the open side of the pocket, a plurality of resiliently flexible spring fingers mounted on the support and projecting therefrom for engagement with a wrapper end which projects from the pocket, and means for actuating said support in said diirection whereby to engage said fingers successively with the wrapper end in a direction transverse respecting the projecting end for drawing such end under tension about the work in the pocket, one of said fingers being approximately parallel to the path of support movement and the other finger being shorter and disposed therebeneath in a position to engage the wrapper and the work at a point closer to the pocket than the point at which said first finger engages the wrapper and the work.

ALEXANDER W. WITBRO. 

